Gays, Jews, and Geniuses

It is not a coincidence that many of the most formidable intellects of the 20th Century belonged to outcasts — Jews and gays, in particular — who grew up outside the "system," were barred from participating in it fully, or struggled to adapt to it. Consider some of Hoel's examples (and many others): Einstein, John Von Neumann, Hannah Arendt, Virgin... See more

The 20th Century was defined by standardization — the coordination of groups to produce more output. The 21st Century is defined by leverage— the ability of a single individual to reach billions of customers, readers, and collaborators and to match their unique combination of skills to their most profitable use.

From now on, individual people can allocate skills on a much more fluid basis. People can express multiple dimensions of their personality and apply themselves across disciplines without asking for anyone's permission. The result will be a flourishing of human talents and growing inequality.

To make the most of human potential, we must tutor the best and brightest away from the systems and goals that govern broader society. Is that feasible?

Yes, kids these days still have tutors — wealthy kids, in particular. But contemporary tutoring is focused almost exclusively on getting through specific subjects at school, passing specific standardized tests, or getting admitted to specific universities or corporations.

The theory by Erik Hoel states that: We're not maximizing the potential of the world's most gifted individuals because we're not educating them the right way. In the past, geniuses did not go to school; they were tutored — getting most of their education at home, for a single person (or a small group of people).